BURNLEY Health Care is one of the top trusts in the UK, according to NHS Performance Tables announced this week.

Burnley scored top marks in 38 out of 57 categories, and has plans well in hand for where standards could be improved.

Trust chief executive David Chew said: "It is a tremendous achievement and a tribute to all the staff."

The performance tables show that no-one in the area had to wait longer than a month to be admitted if the original date for an operation had to be cancelled.

No one waited longer than 12 months to be admitted as an in-patient and all first-time out-patients were seen within 26 weeks.

And all but five per cent of out-patients needing specialists in general surgery, mental illness, cardiology, paediatrics and rheumatology were seen in 13 weeks. Out-patients who fared less well needed to see specialists in orthopaedics, opthalmology, oral surgery and plastic surgery.

A new consultant in orthopaedics has now been appointed and a consultant opthalmolgist is also about to join.

Two new general surgeons will help reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment for hernias and more work in planned to cope with the wait for oral and plastic surgery.

Mr Chew added: "Results in previous years were pleasing, but this year has been exceptionally good and demonstrates that the Trust is continuing to improve the quality of health car provision in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

"However, there is still room for improvement in some areas and we are working towards rectifying this during 1996/97."

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